The Roman philosopher Seneca came to a sad end. Spurred by patriotism,
he came out of exile to tutor Emperor Claudius' unstable stepson Nero
and was rewarded for his pains several years later when his onetime
student ordered him to commit suicide. At least Nero recognized
greatness; ordinary mortals died by torture when a shadow crossed the
Emperor's demented brain. In this threadbare, novelistic pastiche,
Vincent Sheean treats Seneca far worse. Though the historical Seneca
was second only to Cicero as an exponent...